Dr. Samuel Chui Advocates Smart Environmental Governance During Beijing Visit

DEP attends seminar by Ministry of Ecology and Environment in Beijing

The Director of Environmental Protection, Dr Samuel Chui, began his visit in Beijing on April 10 and called on the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) yesterday (April 11).

Dr Chui was invited to attend the first session of the 2025 "Science, Culture, and Literacy" Lecture Series organised by the MEE to deliver a keynote presentation. The Minister of MEE, Mr Huang Runqiu, also attended the seminar.

The presentation, titled "Smart Environmental Governance Strategies and Practices of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government," highlighted the successful application of sewage surveillance and real-time forecasting models to assist in pandemic control efforts, practice cases of Hong Kong's innovation in pollution control by utilising smart technologies, and the two latest developed technological applications by the Environmental Protection Department, the biological water quality indicator "Phytoplankton Community Integrity Index" and the risk-based composite index for evaluating overall air quality status.

Participants unanimously agreed that the successful scientific pollution control practices introduced during the seminar provided valuable references for kick-starting ecological and environmental protection efforts. They should study and learn from these practices to further enhance the awareness and capacity of applying scientific thinking and methods to improve environmental quality, better promoting pollution control in a precise, scientific, and law-based manner.

The seminar was held in a hybrid format, combining online and offline participation. The Vice Minister of MEE, Mr Yu Huiwen; the Chief Inspector of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection Inspector's Office, Mr Liao Xiyuan; and Vice Minister of MEE, Mr Dong Baotong also attended the event.

The Chief Engineer of MEE, Mr Ren Yong, chaired the seminar. Key personnel and administration of State Committee of Supervisory (SSC) Supervisor's Office, Ministry's various departments, the Environmental Emergency and Accident Investigation Center and Agency Service Center attended the event in person at the main venue. Other staff from the SSC Supervisor's Office, Ministry's various departments and the affiliated institutes joined from sub-venues or virtually.

During his visit to Beijing, Dr Chui also attended the 23rd China International Environmental Protection Exhibition and Conference. He met with representatives from the BRI International Green Development Coalition and the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Sciences to explore collaboration on environmental technologies, aiming to jointly achieve the goal of high-quality green and sustainable development under the Belt and Road Initiative.

DEP attends seminar by Ministry of Ecology and Environment in Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DEP attends seminar by Ministry of Ecology and Environment in Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DEP attends seminar by Ministry of Ecology and Environment in Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DEP attends seminar by Ministry of Ecology and Environment in Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DEP attends seminar by Ministry of Ecology and Environment in Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DEP attends seminar by Ministry of Ecology and Environment in Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detects sea smuggling case with goods worth about $70 million seized

Hong Kong Customs on April 4 detected a smuggling case involving an ocean-going vessel at the Kwai Chung Container Terminals. A large batch of suspected smuggled electronic goods with a total estimated market value of about $70 million was seized.

Through intelligence analysis and risk assessment, Customs officers identified an ocean-going vessel preparing to depart from Hong Kong for Tianjinon April 4for inspection. A large batch of suspected smuggled electronic goods, including integrated circuits, computer parts, motherboards and laboratory equipment, was seized inside a container on board the vessel.

An investigation is ongoing. The likelihood of arrests is not ruled out.

Customs is the primary law enforcement agency responsible for tackling smuggling activities and has long been combating various smuggling activities on all fronts. Customs will keep up its enforcement action and continue to resolutely combat sea smuggling activities through proactive risk management and intelligence-based enforcement strategies, and carry out targeted anti-smuggling operations at suitable times to crack down on related crimes.

Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years upon conviction.

Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) oronline form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/en).

Hong Kong Customs detects sea smuggling case with goods worth about $70 million seized Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases